Kind-hearted fundraisers in Ludgershall have delighted residents at Barlett House Care Home by providing a brand summerhouse for their garden.

Thanks to the 10-month long fundraising efforts of community champion, John McConnell, The Queens Head pub, AG&G Timber, the Army’s 6 Battalion REME and other local supporters, pensioners are now enjoying the sunshine under the protection of their new timber structure.

Complete with wheelchair access, as well as a new-planted area, residents are reaping the benefits after local people and businesses helped raise more than £3000 to enable the project to be completed. 

Click here to listen to a series of interviews by Castledown Radio’s Baz Reilly.

The following article is a special report writtin by The Queenshead Fundraising Co-ordinator, John McConnell BEM:

The Barlett Charity Project was chosen by Jane and Kevin Robinson, proprietors of the Queenshead Pub in Ludgershall.  After receiving a phone call from Jane asking me if I would come on board as the Queenshead Fund Raising Co-ordinator, I was very happy to agree. This year, we were also very fortunate to add Kim and Dave Baird.

.A Family Fun Day and Sponsored Run with Dog ‘MAX’ took place at the Queenshead Pub as well as an evening function of a Disco with Bill’n’Haley also performing to a large audience. The Queenshead Pub has also sponsored Irish Bingo and Quiz Nights throughout the year.

Barclays Bank in Andover sponsored the Family Fun Day and we thank them for their fantastic support and sponsorship of £1069, especially Nick Cooper and Richard Smith, who also helped us out on the day with their families. We received donations of money from Ludgershall Parish Council, Old Castle Club, Poppies Playgroup in Tidworth and would like to thank all of them for their generosity helping us raise a total £3849.

Thanks also to Nick Cooper and Ian Cope for assisting me on the 5-mile run - it was enjoyable!

The organisers would also like to thank all the local businesses that donated prizes to our Raffle and Grand Auction. Jane and Kevin Robinson from the Queenshead Pub provided all the entertainment and we thank them also for their fantastic support and use of their premises.

We would also like to thank the following:

Castledown Radio for their great support and media coverage especially Baz Reilly, Shirley Swain and Rick Young. Andover Advertiser for their great support and the articles they produced in the Andover Advertiser, it all greatly enhanced the profile of our events.

I would also like to thank the Queenshead Staff and the regulars for the loyalty and fantastic support they have given and continue to do so. Also to Bill Walters, Pete Marshall and Alan Bailey, who organised the Irish Bingo and Quiz Evenings and also to Bill for giving up his time 'again' particulary at the opening ceremony for free.

Also thanks to Tidworth's 6 BN REME for their efforts in providing the Railway Sleeper Flowerbed and Path Borders and to thanks  Rosemary Lusty the Bartlett House Manager and her staff for the fantastic support they have given us in support of our project .

Our great thanks and appreciation go to Graham and Gordon and their staff from AG & G Timbers for carrying building the Gazebo and wheelchair access. They were also generous in their quotes for the work to be completed and it was all done in the time span they promised.

Last but not least, a big thank you once again to the Queenshead Fund Raising Team,  Jane and Kevin Robinson and Kim and Dave Baird. We all enjoyed working on the project and it was great fun and involved lots of people in the Ludgershall area, which has helped bring the community closer together.

Thank you to the Bartlett House Residents, you are a fantastic bunch of people and we all love you and wish you all a long and happy future. On behalf of the Queenshead Fund Raising Team, I would like thank you all for your support.